OC BikeFest Eyes Bigger Second Year

OCEAN CITY – The highly anticipated OC BikeFest, presented by Rommel Harley-Davidson of Annapolis and Rommel Harley-Davidson of New Castle and Smyrna, Del. rolled into Ocean City yesterday for its second year.

According to organizers, this year’s OC BikeFest will treat Delmarva motorcycle enthusiasts to a weekend of fantastic music and thrilling entertainment at the Inlet, Convention Center and Jolly Roger Amusement Park.

OC BikeFest will take place on the same grounds and setup as Sunfest, including its two stages that will play host to three classic rock headliners. Jackly with Jesse James Dupree rocked the stage last night, Set for today at 5 p.m. is Grand Funk Railroad and get your fiddle on with the Charlie Daniels Band on Sept. 15, 5 p.m.

You can also find even more music at the Convention Center location where Jackyl and 38 Special will rock the Jack Daniel’s stage. Other acts throughout the weekend at both locations include The Rowdy Johnson Band, Kashmir, a Led Zeppelin tribute show, and Messenger.

In addition to the music other attractions include TRU TV’s Full Throttle Saloon’s Michael Ballard and Angie Carlson, the Jack Daniel’s Experience, a mobile museum bringing a little of the distillery from Lynchburg to Ocean City.; The Wall of Death, an extreme motorcycle thrill show; Ball of Steel stunt show and the Adrenaline Crew, an American stunt team out of Los Angeles; and the Extreme Trials Showcase featuring Tommi Ahvala.

Attendees (21 years and older) of the 2012 OC BikeFest are eligible to enter Loaded Gun Customs, Custom Vintage Bike Giveaway. The drawing will take place following the Charlie Daniels Band concert on the Ocean Stage at the Inlet on Sept.15. The motorcycle is on display at the main entrance of the Casino Ocean Downs.

Happening simultaneously with the Delmarva Bike Week, which annually attracts more than 120,000 motorcycling enthusiasts to the peninsula, OC BikeFest offers visiting bikers and many others, an opportunity to head down to the ocean to enjoy stunt shows, custom bike builders, a motorcycle vendor mall, food tents, Budweiser and Jack Daniel’s Pubs, shops, rides and the fabulous bars and restaurants in Ocean City.

OC BikeFest organizer Cliff Sutherland said he hopes to attract families and motorcycle enthusiasts who are ready for a good time. Sutherland is quite familiar with the Maryland beach, as he has vacationed in Ocean City for 40-plus years. A frequent participant in Delmarva Bike Week, he became concerned over the event’s western migration, so Sutherland met with Ocean City officials and brought the inaugural rally to the coastal city in 2011.

“What we’ve done is created a high-end event for Ocean City,” he said. “Our rally will probably be 60 percent motorcyclists and 40 percent other folks. We do all types of music not just your ‘traditional biker’ music. We aim to attract everyone.”

Sutherland is expecting at least 20,000 visitors this year.
Hours vary by location and can be found at www.ocbikefest.com.

Advance passes are available at Rommel Harley-Davidson and Rommel’s ACE stores. Admission allows attendees to come and go as they please for all four days. A four-day pass for adults is $25 and a one-day pass is $15. Children’s four-day pass is $15. Sunday is Family Day, adults pay $10 and children $5. Purchase tickets at www.tixonlinenow.com/ocbikefest/shopdisplayproducts.asp

About The Author: Steven Green

The writer has been with The Dispatch in various capacities since 1995, including serving as editor and publisher since 2004. His previous titles were managing editor, staff writer, sports editor, sales account manager and copy editor. Growing up in Salisbury before moving to Berlin, Green graduated from Worcester Preparatory School in 1993 and graduated from Loyola University Baltimore in 1997 with degrees in Communications (journalism concentration) and Political Science.

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